This PPV snuck up on me and I didn’t get my usual predictions article out, but I did watch the matches and I wanted to give my reaction to the event. Overall, it was a below average show. Other than the last Saudi Arabia event, they have all been below average. There were no awesome matches and the “surprises” didn’t make sense. A large portion of the WWE fan base is obviously American and many of the fans aren’t able to watch and when major things happen in a show like this, it feels like a low blow to your most loyal fans. To be perfectly honest, I am tired of seeing these Saudi events and I don’t think I’m alone in that thinking. I’m not going to get political, but these shows suck. I was optimistic a couple of years ago, but now that they’re a couple years into their 10-year deal, I’m over it. Here is my reaction to the event.

- Men’s Tag Team Match

The O.C. over The Viking Raiders

This was a pre-show match that was unannounced prior to the event. I hate when they do this sort of thing, but besides that, this match meant nothing and The OC winning here didn’t help or hurt them. The match decent, not good. I guess it was good for the pre-show, but it was nothing more than a pre-show match with absolutely nothing at stake.

GRADE: 7.3/10

- Men’s Gauntlet Match *Match of the Night*

The Undertaker over AJ Styles, R-Truth, Andrade, Erick Rowan, Bobby Lashley

This was the best planned match. R-Truth had a long run and AJ Styles came in and took over, that is until Undertaker popped up. Most people were expecting this to happen, but the bell toll effect doesn’t wear off. The whole competition for a trophy like the meaningless “prestigious” Tuwaiq Trophy is stupid, but I guess they had to have an angle to create a match like this. This Undertaker win seemingly sets up for a Taker vs. Styles match at WrestleMania and to be honest, that should be an interesting match. I’m only rating this an 8/10 and that is pretty sad considering the fact that I marked it as Match of the Night.

GRADE: 8/10

- Men’s Tag Team Match: SmackDown Tag Team Championship

The Miz and Morrison over The New Day (C)

It wouldn’t have shocked me to have seen The New Day holding the titles until WrestleMania, but it also doesn’t shock me that they dropped them today. Other than the gauntlet match, this was the longest match on the card and it was good match, but I felt like it could’ve been a great match. It wasn’t great, but I’m interested to see what Miz and Morrison can do with a tag title reign.

GRADE: 7.7/10

- Men’s Singles Match

Angel Garza over Humberto Carrillo

Another decent, but not great match. I feel like Garza and Carrillo’s matches on RAW have been better than this “PPV” match. I think we’ll get this feud for another month or so and that’s fine, but it has to be spiced up a little more for anyone to get interest. Garza is a new talent that many fans are seeing for the first time and it looks like he could be a minor title contender moving forward. Carrillo is in the same boat, but he was just a little earlier to the party.

GRADE: 7.4/10

- Men’s Tag Team Match: RAW Tag Team Championship

Murphy and Seth Rollins (C) vs. The Street Profits

I had a feeling that The Street Profits were going to win here, but Murphy and Rollins retaining makes sense. I’d expect them to hold onto the title until WrestleMania, but anything can happen. The match here was Match of the Night caliber, but I thought the finish was what hinder it from getting that distinction. Rollins’s “Messiah” gimmick doesn’t do anything for me because it has been done and I think they need to move away from it. I don’t mind the fact that he is aligned with Murphy and AOP, but Rollins doesn’t really wow me outside of the ring. I’m interested to see what happens in the next month or two with Rollins, but I’m just not that invested in what he is doing right now.

GRADE: 7.8/10

- Men’s Singles Match

Mansoor over Dolph Ziggler

Mansoor picks up another win in front of the home crowd, but to what avail? Don’t get me wrong, he is very talented and I think he could make a solid WWE performer in the near future, but I don’t see the point in calling each of his wins “a miracle”. I understand what they’re trying to do, but they’re fooling nobody. He has been doing events in NXT, but I’m interested to see what he can do in a regular TV opportunity, rather than a deal where he has a PPV match in Saudi every 6 months.

GRADE: 7.5/10

- Men’s Singles Match: WWE Championship

Brock Lesnar (C) over Ricochet

Other than Brock Lesnar defending his title, what was the purpose of this match? They really did a disservice to Ricochet, who happens to be one of the most beloved superstars among fans. He didn’t get one move on Lesnar. That is sad. Ricochet deserves a lot better and they could’ve literally picked anyone on the roster to job to Lesnar. I didn’t expect Ricochet to win, but come on. They could’ve planned at least a 3 or 4-minute match. The worst is yet to come and that is another sad display for this show.

GRADE: 6/10

- Men’s Steel Cage Match

Roman Reigns over King Corbin

For the love of God, let this feud be over. We have seen enough. It looks like Roman is on the fast track to the Universal Championship This match wasn’t bad in all reality, but I don’t understand why it has gone on for this long. Corbin ultimately losing the feud doesn’t hurt him at all, but this does absolutely nothing for Roman Reigns. He’s done pretty much anything that he has wanted to accomplish in his short career and winning a feud over King Corbin doesn’t really do anything for him. We’ll see where this leads to, but for now, this lengthy feud was just a time killer.

GRADE: 7.7/10

- Women’s Singles Match: SmackDown Women’s Championship

Bayley (C) over Naomi

Nothing was going to top the first women’s match in Saudi, but this one didn’t even come close. Now we get to the point where the women aren’t allowed to play out their gimmicks. The crowd loves the women’s superstars and it is clear to see, but they are hindered by the ones funding the event. I think this match would’ve been solid in the US, but the fact that is was in Saudi, the quality was knocked back a few notches. I don’t know what is next for these two, but it looks like Bayley is going to WrestleMania as the champ.

GRADE: 7.4/10

- Men’s Singles Match: Universal Championship

Goldberg over “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (C)

We go through this whole crappy event and we end up with a horrendous finish to the show. Goldberg takes down The Fiend cleanly and most of the fans are extremely upset. I’m truly baffled. I’ve never been a fan of Goldberg and I guess that has a little bearing in my opinion, but why is a 53-year-old man, who has only wrestled in 5 matches since 2004, taking a major title from the best gimmick probably since 2004? I have no answer. You can’t get current talent over if you keep bringing back the Senior Citizens Circuit to win major titles. I get sick of this. It’s true that Wyatt didn’t need a title to get over, but the fact that he lost to Goldberg sucks. It should’ve been Roman or Brock Lesnar taking him down, not a guy that will probably drop the title within a month. The Fiend has been built up as this unstoppable force and he had no answer for Goldberg. That is insane. He didn’t execute one move!!!! He tried the mandible claw twice, but I don’t count that. Did this ruin Wyatt’s character? No, but it certainly didn’t do him any favors, especially assuming that he’s not going to win it back.

GRADE: 1/10

Yacs

Super ShowDown 2020 Results and Reaction